Santiago de
Compostela
In the ninth century, a tomb
supposed to be that of St James the Apostle was discovered at Santiago de
Compostela, and by the Middle Ages this had become the third most
important place of Christian pilgrimage after St Peter's in Rome and
Jerusalem. Today, both pilgrims and tourists still follow the ancient
route across northern Spain to the towering cathedral.
Santiago Cathedral was built on the site of a ninth-century basilica
between the eleventh and thirteenth centuries. Although there have been
additions such as the Baroque Obradoiro facade, the interior remains as
it was almost 800 years ago. Behind the Obradoiro facade stands the
superb twelfth-century Portico de la Gloria with its three decorated
arches. Christ, flanked by four apostles and eight angels, dominates the
central arch, and St James stands directly below him on a column carved
with the Tree of Jesse.
Inside the cathedral the extremely ornate gilt and silver confection of
the altar contrasts strongly with the cool, dark simplicity of the rest
of the interior.
During the Middle Ages, as many as two million visitors made their way
here on foot each year, and in the twelfth century a monk named Aymery
Picaud wrote the first guide book in the world in order to help them,
describing in detail the best routes through France and Spain and the
best places to stay. Today, visitor numbers have not changed, but
although many people choose to walk at least part of the way, it is not
strictly necessary.
There is an entrance fee for
the museum and cloisters.
